Truck Accident Lawyer in Stuart
U.S. Route 1 and I-95 see a considerable amount of traffic, including heavily laden commercial trucks. With dozens of 18-wheelers and big rigs plying these roads daily, Martin County is no stranger to serious truck accidents.
Our Personal Injury Attorneys
At The Law Offices of Travis R. Walker, P.A., we’re dedicated to helping truck accident victims throughout the Treasure Coast. We understand how these collisions can completely upend your life, leaving you with hospital bills, chronic pain, and an uncertain future. The sooner you contact a Stuart personal injury lawyer at our firm, the faster we can help you on your road to recovery.
Our legal team leverages a deep understanding of trucking regulations, exceptional negotiation skills, and the resources to hold negligent parties liable. We provide compassionate support and guidance through every step of the legal process. If you were injured and need a strong advocate, we invite you to schedule a consultation with an experienced Stuart truck accident lawyer.
Types of truck accidents in Martin County
Drivers of commercial trucks must comply with federal regulations set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These directives govern frequency of vehicle inspection and maintenance, weight limits, rest periods, and maximum hours of service, as well as truck driver qualifications and prohibited practices.
Accidents with tractor trailers and semi-trucks often occur when drivers or the companies that employ them cut corners and ignore safety regulations.
Our attorneys help victims involved in all types of collisions with trucks, including:
- Underride accidents. An underride accident occurs when a vehicle or SUV crashes into the back or side of a commercial truck and slides underneath. Oftentimes, the top of the smaller vehicle is partially sheared off, causing catastrophic injuries and fatalities.
- Head-on collisions. After truck underrides, head-on collisions are some of the most dangerous, and usually stem from excessive fatigue or driving under the influence. In most cases, the truck crosses a center lane directly into oncoming traffic.
- Jackknife accidents. When a truck driver brakes too suddenly for road and weather conditions, the trailer can swing out at a 90-degree angle toward the cab. A jackknifing truck will often skid forward, colliding with other vehicles and objects.
- Rear-end collisions. 18-wheelers and semi-trucks take longer to stop because of their size and weight. A fully-loaded big rig traveling 65 mph will need 600 feet to stop. This required stopping distance is twice as long as the average passenger car. When trucks are following too closely, or too fast, rear-end accidents are often inevitable.
- Rollover accidents. Excess speed on curves, abrupt counter-steering and truck driver impairment are the leading causal factors in rollover accidents. Tractor trailer rollovers account for an estimated 5 percent of all fatal truck accidents in the U.S.
Who can be liable for a truck accident?
When you retain a skilled truck accident attorney in Stuart, it is their job to conduct independent investigations and identify the party – or parties — who bear responsibility for the collision. It is not uncommon for a car accident with a truck to have multiple liable parties.
Our attorneys will leave no stone unturned to find out how the accident occurred. Potential defendants in an injury claim may include:
- A negligent truck driver
- Another motorist who contributed to the collision
- The trucking company that employed the driver
- The contractor that loaded the truck
- The manufacturer of defective vehicle parts
- Individuals who performed careless maintenance
If investigations indicate that you were partially at fault for the semi-truck accident, it is still possible to sue for damages. Under Florida’s contributory fault doctrines, your settlement or financial award will be reduced according to your percentage of liability. In other words, if you were found to be 20 percent at fault for the accident, a damage award of $100,000 would be reduced to $80,000.
Our legal team is well-versed in defense tactics to avoid liability and shift blame, and will work diligently to ensure victims are fairly compensated.
Semi-truck accident compensation
The gravity and long-term repercussions of truck accident injuries can leave victims with permanent disability, chronic pain, cognitive impairment, and reduced quality of life. Severe burns, traumatic brain injury, loss of limb, and paralysis are some of the more debilitating injuries sustained.
A lawsuit can seek compensation for both economic and non-economic damages that cover past, current and anticipated losses such as:
- Hospital and medical expenses
- Lost income and wages
- Loss of future earnings
- Costs for ongoing physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Loss of marital or familial relationships
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of quality of life
The Law Offices of Travis R. Walker, P.A. have the legal expertise and resources to go after negligent trucking companies and maximize your legal recovery.
In Florida, personal injury victims have four years from the date of the accident to take legal action. Get your life back on track after being hurt in a collision. Discuss your case with our truck accident attorneys in Stuart.
Your Three Steps to Moving Forward
Call our office or complete our contact form and set up an intake call with our Intake Coordinator.
Attend a virtual or in-office consultation so we can better understand your case and determine how we can help guide you to success.
Retain our firm so we may lead you through the legal process as quickly and painlessly as possible.
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